The latest draft United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on accountability for massacres in Sri Lanka shows yet again the ineptitude of the international system to deliver justice for crimes committed more than 13 years ago. Following years of growing militarisation, crackdowns on civil society actors, and ongoing human rights violations, the latest resolution asks victims and survivors to place their faith in the Sri Lankan state. This is the same Sri Lankan state that the former UN High Commissioner acknowledges has actively reversed progress on accountability by appointing war criminals to head government ministries. The latest draft falls far short of what has been needed for years.

A remembrance event was held in Mullaitivu yesterday to mark 23 years since a Sri Lankan military airstrike killed at least 24 Tamil civilians in Manthuvil.

To date, no one has been held accountable for the killings.

During the 51^st session of the UN Human Rights Council session, Gary Anandasangaree, a Canadian MP for Scarborough-Rouge Park, spoke with Tamil Guardian about the need for demilitarisation, devolution, Sri Lanka’s economic woes and how Canada was pushing for accountability.

Demilitarisation

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarian Angajan Ramanathan paid tribute to Lt. Col. Thileepan this week, as he shared a video to mark 35 years since the LTTE political leader began his hunger strike.

In a post on Facebook, Ramanathan shared an artist’s sketch of Thileepan, as Tamils across the North-East held events to commemorate Thilpeean’s fast.

Ramanathan has spent several years with the SLFP and is a well-known Rajapaksa ally.

I have always considered Gautham Vasudev Menon a vastly overrated director. Other than ‘Vettaiyadu Villaiyadu’, his films seemed cold and ultimately hollow. His most recent feature film ‘Enai Noki Paayum Thota’ continued this trend of stylish metropolitan storytelling, despite some interesting visual choices. For Vendhu Thanindhadhu Kaadu, Menon collaborates with Silambarasan TR and AR Rahman for the third time following 2010’s ‘Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya’ and 2016’s ‘Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada’. Third time might indeed be the charm, because VTK is mostly a success. 

Speaking to the Tamil Guardian this week at the 51st session of UNHRC, Koorrusuwaahmy Sorrenthiran, the spokesperson for the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), reiterates calls for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal court (ICC) as well as emphasising the need for self-determination for Tamils.  

Tamils across the North-East held various events in the homeland to mark the 35^th anniversary since Lt Col. Thileepan’s began his hunger strike in Jaffna, demanding the Indian government honour the pledges made to the Tamil people.

Thileepan, a political wing leader of the LTTE, began his fast on September 15, 1987, with 100,000 people gathered around the historic Nallur Kandwaswamy Temple in Jaffna.

Amidst the 51^st session of the UNHRC, a former Tamil MP and a former deputy chairman of the Eastern Provincial Council, have written an urgent appeal for UN Human Rights Council President Federico Villegas to take action to end the continued harassment of activists by Sri Lanka’s Terrorist Intelligence Department (TID).

Today marks 35 years since Lt Col. Thileepan began his hunger strike at Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in protest against the failure of the Indian government to honour the pledges made to the Tamil people. 

Thileepan began his fast on 15^th September 1987, surrounded by over 100,000 supporters, and died 11 days later, on the 26^th September 1987. 

In a new report, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned that 30 percent of the population in Sri Lanka is “experiencing acute food insecurity” and need urgent assistance.